Check out our
FEATURED TREASURES on
our New Website: Including museum quality pieces like Judy Garland "Love
Letter" to Frank Sinatra,
Wizard of OZ vintage movie posters, Harry Houdini historical signed items, JFK
autographed items, John Wayne, Frank Sinatra Signed movie
contracts and the list goes on and on!
MUST SEE our Featured
Collection!

For the past 30 years we have scoured the universe for the
most desirable, original vintage movie posters
memorabilia, Rare celebrity autographs,
and Fine Art Oil Paintings. Each week we add many "choice" items to
our museum quality inventory. Last year we completed our NEW e-commerce
site, Conway's Vintage Treasures which
has MUCH MORE updated material. Be sure to check the
New Products link on our
new site

Caveat Emptor:
We provide examples of autograph forgery and fraudulent activity. But, in
the end it is up to you, the buyer to do your “homework”. Read
our special report to avoid being scammed online. And, particularly with
autographs, KNOW the person you are collecting. Be knowledgably on their
signature. Unfortunately eBay’s
enforcement against fraudulent sellers has been sporadic at best over my past 10
years on eBay. They provide a
“fraudulent seller” reporting mechanism but appear to be doing little to
nothing recently against several blatant offenders that have been reported to
them.

1). The autograph forgery business continues to thrive
on eBay- Long time
seller continues to post Charles Schulz autographed sketch forgeries- One seller has
dual signatures of very famous and valuable movie star autographs, on a
single sheet of paper and several others with very similar look and feel, all
blatant forgeries.
2). For vintage movie posters the concern is primarily "condition".
Often collectors are dismayed when they receive posters that have defects not
mentioned in the auction or web site. Ask for better images and request
the seller to take a second look at the piece and provides specific details on
any flaws or damage.

History of Vintage Movie Posters

Original vintage movie posters and movie memorabilia were
never meant to be collectibles in the old days. They were only to be loaned to
theatre owners and then returned thereafter.Vintage movie posters even have a studio notation on the bottom stating
“Property of National Screen Service Licensed for Display Purposed Only, Must
Be Returned”. Before the
monopolization of the movie theatre industry, move posters were also used
throughout the community to promote upcoming films. The barber shop, drug store
and local hardware store displayed movie poster “inserts” and “window
cards”. Today, only the “one sheet” movie poster is produced and displayed in the
theatre lobbies.

In 1933, one of the darkest years of the Great Depression, a
theater owner might receive a 15-cent credit for returning a movie poster to his
regional exchange. Compare this figure with the cost of a gallon of gas (18
cents) or a loaf of bread (12 cents) and it’s easy to understand why very few
movie posters survived from this period. If the austerity of the times and
the frugality of theater owners was not enough to keep movie posters out of the
hands of the general public, the sweeping paper drives of the war years also did
their part to help keep movie memorabilia out of general circulation. So it’s
no surprise that movie posters from the years of 1930 through 1945 are quite
scarce.

In fact, it is estimated that fewer than 20 copies of movie
posters exist from most films made during the period of 1930 through 1945.
For many landmark films of the era (e.g., “The Grapes of Wrath”,
“Stagecoach”, “The Wizard of Oz”, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”,
“Fury”, “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes”,) it is believed that less
than a dozen examples have survived of any particular poster.

Over the years original vintage movie posters have been
produced in various shapes and sizes.Before
the 1980’s and the demise of the small town movie theatres (as a result of the
monopolization of the industry by companies like Showcase cinemas) also meant
the extinction of all the breath-taking movie posters such as the lobby
cards, window cards, insert, half sheets and the traffic-stopping 3, 6 and 24
sheets. The primary movie poster that survives today is the standard one
sheet.Below is a glossary of the
most popular vintage movie posters that once played a major role in the
promotion and exhilarating anticipation of upcoming movie events.

Horror movie posters and lobby
cards from the 1930s and 40s continue to be in very high demand. We are
currently seeking any horror titles from 1930 to 1955. In particular
Dracula, Frankenstein, Wolfman, Creature from Black Lagoon and 50's Sci Fi's
like Day the Earth Stood Still.

Our movie posters category takes you back as early
as the 1920's, long before the theater industry became monopolized. Back when
the movie poster lobby cards were used to promote the best scenes, when the barber
shop, drug store and local hardware store where all part of the movie promotion
by displaying movie poster inserts and window cards.

Over
the years original vintage movie posters have been produced in various
shapes and sizes.Before the
1980’s and the demise of the small town movie theatres (as a result of the
monopolization of the industry by companies like Showcase cinemas) also
meant the extinction of all the breath-taking movie posters such as the
lobby cards, window cards, insert, half sheets and the traffic-stopping 3, 6
and 24 sheets. The primary movie poster that survives today is the standard
one sheet. Below is a glossary
of the most popular vintage movie posters that once played a major role in
the promotion and exhilarating anticipation of upcoming movie events.

Lobby
Card Movie Posters:

Lobby
cards were used in
U.S.
theaters and are rarely produced for today’s films. These small movie
posters (11”x14 printed on card stock) were generally produced in sets of
eight, although the number of cards in a set can vary from as few as four to
as many as 16.

These
mini movie posters were designed for display in a theater’s lobby for the
purpose of luring movie goers into the theater by showing highlights from
the movie. A lobby card set entailed one Title Card (TC), a lobby card of
usually designed similar to the one sheet with credits and feature/close-up
artwork of the major stars, and seven Scene Cards (SC), each depicting a
different scene from the movie.

Lobby
Card movie posters appeared during the early 1900’s during the Charlie
Chaplin era.

Certain
lobby cards have acquired an almost Holy Grail status among collectors.
Prime examples include the “Witch” scene from the 1949 re-release of the
Wizard of Oz and the lobby card featuring the dust cropper scene in “North
by Northwest”. Because these single cards so effectively capture the
essence of the movie, their value can often be completely out of proportion
with that of any other movie poster memorabilia from the film.

Window
Card and Insert Movie Posters:

Highly
collectible vintage movie posters today also include Widow Cards (14x22”)
and Inserts (14x36”). These movie poster styles were primarily used to
promote the movie in local businesses, such as the drug store and local
barber shop. As with lobby cads these movie posters are often very desirable
due to their superior vintage graphics and artwork. Modern
day posters generated by computer have lost their artistic value as compared
to the vintage movie posters created by highly skilled artists.

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A friendly caution to all our fellow Collectors. It appears that the
internet auction sites have become a safe haven for massive sellers of
autograph forgeries. Before buying an autograph on for example Ebay, ask
questions about the item, i.e. what is the seller's credentials, does
he/she have a web site or a store front, where did he/she acquire the
autograph and is it guaranteed to pass PSA (or reputable expert)
inspection. And does he/she guaranteed the item for life and how would
you contact them in the event it fails authentication. Also,
examine his other auctions and notice if there is a suspicious trend such as
MULTIPLE Charles Schulz signed drawing that have an uncanny pattern to them,
or fountain pen signatures that don't have an aged look to them. But, don't let this unfortunate reality deter you from the excitement of collecting
such rare and historical memorabilia. Just use extra caution and research when making
purchases online. A rare autograph of presidents, famous movie stars, and sport legends
along with beautiful movie poster art from the greatest movies are a very rewarding, not
to mention exciting, investment. We have also started to tap into the immense popularity
of vintage toys,
particularly 50's/60's TV show theme toys. This week we are featuring RARE Original
Vintage Beatles one sheets from "Hard Days Night", "Help" and
"Yellow Submarine".

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From authentic, celebrity autographs to original
classic movie posters to 50's/60's television collectibles
you are sure to find many treasures which would make your guests and customers drool with envy. Most of us
would never remember a piece of traditional art on display in the home or office, but do
you think your guests would forget a framed autograph from Abraham Lincoln, Marilyn
Monroe or a sport celebrity? Many of our customers ask us how we acquire these incredible,
rare collectibles. Well, we have been searching the planet for the most rare and
desirable memorabilia such as vintage horror and comedy movie posters and extraordinary
celebrity autographs for the past twenty years. So go to our main categories below
and look at some of these museum like treasures. And, be sure to as we get new material in from all over the world everyday. Don't wait and be a disappointed customer who has to hear those
dreadful words, "sorry, it's sold".

And,
don't forget to check out our Treasure of the Month - this week it's the
"Wizard" himself Frank Morgan. A stunning vintage autographed photo.

HOT
COLLECTIBLE INVESTMENTS - Coming Soon!

* Bela Lugosi
SIGNED 8x10 as "Dracula - May be the most SPECTACULAR Lugosi or
Horror signed Treasure on the market today! With incredible provenance of how
and where it was acquired in the early 1950's

* John Wayne's 1925
High School Yearbook!

* Frank Sinatra
signed 1962 postcard and he adds to the woman he writes to "Want to Come Fly
With Me"!

NO WHERE ELSE will you EVER find the
RARE and VALUABLE Treasures we offer!